Seattle 3, Everett 1
Published 10:57 pm Saturday, September 29, 2007
Seattle 3, Everett 1
Talking points
A better performance, but not all the way there for Everett. The defensive mistakes weren’t eliminated, but they were reduced. Leland Irving was better than in the first three games, though Seattle’s Riku Helenius outshone Irving with an impressive display. However, Everett was still undisciplined. It seemed both teams targeted a specific player for physical play: Everett targeted Seattle captain Thomas Hickey and Seattle targeted Everett winger Kyle Beach. The difference was Hickey didn’t react while Beach did, and as a result the Tips ended up on the wrong side of the power-play ledger.
So another loss, but a better effort against a Seattle team that’s the best the Tips have faced so far. A particularly good effort from Everett’s young players, but the veterans still have yet to assert themselves they way they need to if Everett is to be successful.
Turning point
It was a one-goal game when, with Everett on the power play, the Tips allowed Hickey a good run on goal. Though Hickey didn’t score, the puck eventually came out to Greg Scott, who one-timed a shot that deflected in off Dan Gendur’s stick. That short-hander was a killer for Everett.
Hit of the day
Toward the end of the first period Everett’s Jonathan Harty laid out Lindsay Nielsen with an open-ice shoulder check as Nielsen tried to make a move past Harty at the blue line. Honorable mention to Seattle’s Scott and Scott Jackson for big hits in the third period.
Three stars
First star: Josh Schappert, Seattle. Scored a goal and worked hard.
Second star: Riku Helenius, Seattle. Made some big saves throughout. For my money he was the biggest difference in the game.
Third star: Thomas Hickey, Seattle. Always makes the right play. Clearly Seattle’s best player.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Kyle Beach, Everett. Took too many penalties, but was the best player on the ice when he wasn’t in the box, with the possible exception of Hickey.
Scratches
For Everett, goaltender David Reekie is sick. Once again there was no room for forwards Brennan Sonne, Brandon Campos and Vitali Karamnov because of the overager and Euro crowding. Forwards Morgan MacLean and Eric English and defensemen Eddie Friesen, Chris de la Lande and Matt Strong were healthy scratches.
For Seattle, forwards Jim O’Brien (shoulder), Ian MacKenzie (ankle) and defenseman Jeremy Schappert (shoulder) are injured. Forwards Cody Hanson and Josh Lazowski and defenseman Sena Acolatse were healthy scratches.
